American Big Game in its Haunts 



the river which was to lead us to our shooting 

 grounds. One cannot oppose the great tides of 

 Cook Inlet, and all plans are based on them. 

 Therefore we did not leave until the flood, when 

 we were carried up the stream some twelve miles 

 — the tide limit — where we camped. 



The next morning we were up at daylight, for 

 at this point began the hard river work. There 

 was much brush on the banks, but our natives 

 proved themselves most expert in passing the line, 

 for from now on until we reached the lake our 

 boats had to be towed against a swift current. 



That day we made about eight miles, and 

 camped shortly after five o'clock. It rained hard 

 during the night, and the next morning broke 

 cloudy. The river for the first two days wound 

 through the lowlands, but from this point on the 

 banks seemed higher and the current percepti- 

 bly swifter, while breaking water showed the 

 presence of rocks under the surface. The coun- 

 try back from the stream began to be more roll- 

 ing, and as the river occasionally made some bold 

 bend the Kenai Mountains could be seen In the 

 distance. 



Again It rained hard during the night and con- 

 tinued well on Into the next morning, so we made 

 a late start, breaking camp at eight o'clock. 



178 



